Suspension device for lamps.



No. 850,986. PATENTBD APR. 23..4-1907.

SUSPENSION DEVIUEFOR LAMPS.

APPLIOATIOH FILED JAN. 25'. 1907.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR LAMPS.

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERICH WEBER., a subject of the Prince of Reuss, J. L., and a resi-A dent of Leipzig, in the Kingdom of Saxony, German Empire, have invented new and useful Improvements in Suspension Devices for Lamps, of which the following is a specification. 5

My invention relates to that class of device for suspending lamps in which to enable ready raising and lowering of the lamp. The flexible suspension member to which the lamp is attached is wound on a springecontrolled reel.

According to my invention I brake the reel by means of a lever, the one end of which. carries a roller or other guide for the flexible suspension member, while the other end acts directly upon the periphery of the reel or of a a disk or is provided with a brake-shoe or other device which so acts. In this manner when the effect of the Weight of the lamp is increased-for instance, by the lamp being drawn down-the braking action of the reel is overcome, so that the flexible member can be unwound against the action of the spring.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which the device is shown in conjunction with an electric incandescent lamp.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of the device, the lamp being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a detail view showing the braking-lever in its released position. Fig. 3 isa vertical section of a modified form of the device, the lamp being shown in elevation, in which the conducting-cord itself is employed to suspend the reel. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a modified form of the braking device.

The conducting-cord A of the incandescent lamp B is wound in well-known manner on a reel C, which under the action of the s ring F winds up the lamp automatically. .`he reel C is mounted in a frame D, by which it is suspended. In order to insure regular winding of the individual coils of the cord one upon the other, the drum of the reel is furnished with two disks E, the marginal portions of which constitute flanges for the reel.

G is a double-armed lever mounted at the bottom of the frame D. The one end of. this lever carries a rollerH, or it may be merely a bolt for guiding the cord A. The other end acts as a brake and may bear against the Specification of Letters Patent. Y Application filed January 25,1907. Serial No. 354,111.

Patented April 23, 1907.

l rims of the disks E or may be provided with a brake-shoe of appropriate material or with any other suitable braking device, .In the drawings the lever G is shown as carrying a spring I,`wl iich on braking bears against the rims of the disks and constitutes a resilient i brake-shoe.

Normally the brake-spring I, owing to the weight of the lam B, bears so firmlyagainst the rims of the dis s E that the lamp is maintained in the position in which it has been set. When the lamp is forcibly drawn down, the spring I presses 'still more firmly against the disk-rims and more resistance is offered to rotation of the reel C. If the cord A is to be wound up, the lamp B is lifted, whereby the lever G is relieved ofthe pull on it and the pressure of the brakeespring I against the disks is removed, (see position Fig. 2,) so that the cord will be wound up automatically,`

owing to the'action of the spring F.

In the modification shown 1n Fig. 3 the reel C is suspended by the cord A itself, which is inserted through the drum of the reelin such :manner that when the lamp is raised the cord will be wound up on both sides simultaneously under the action of the spring F. L is a guide-roller for the upper portion of the cord. With this arrangement the .winding and unwinding will naturally go on more rapidly than with the device shown in Figsl.

In either of the forms of the device described the brake contrivance I may be replaced by a brake-strap passing round the rim of one of the disks E. Fig. 4 shows such an arrangement, I being a brake-strap passed round the one disk E. One end of this brakestrap is secured to the disk itself, the other end being fastened to the single-armed lever G in such manner that on depression of the latter the strap is forced against the rim of thedisk. If the lever G is double-armed, both ends of the strap I may be secured to it in the manner of the differential brake.

The cord A passing over the roller H, owing to the weight of the lamp B, will depress the end of the lever G, and thus force the brake-strap I against the rim of the disk E. On drawing down the lamp the full pressure of the brake Will act on the lever G and brake-stra I, and the lamp can therefore only be pu ed down by overcoming this braking force. The strength of the band or wire selected as brake-strap will naturally depend upon the weight of the lamp for which the device is to be employed. For incandescent electric lamps a wire of but moderate diameter will be sufficient.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States', is-

l. A suspension dev ice for lamps, comprising a frame a spring-controlled winding-reel mounted therein and adapted to receive the exible member to which the lamp is attached, the frame projecting above and below the reel; vand fa cam-actin ybrake-lever pivoted intermediate its ends inthe frame below the reel, the lower end of 'the lever acting as a guide for said flexible member while the upper end beyond the pivot, bears on the reel; substantially as described. v

2. A suspension device for lamps, comprising a frame, a spring-'controlled winding-reel mounted therein and adapted to receive the iiexible member to which kthe lamp is attached; the frame projecting above and below the reel a cam-acting brake-lever mounted in the frame below the reel', one end of which lever acts as a guide for said flexible member; and a brake-strap secured to the lever and passing round the-reel g substantially as described.

3. A suspension device for lamps, comprising a frame, the top of which acts as guide for ya flexible lamp-suspending member; a spring controlled winding reel mounted therein around and through which the ilexible lamp-supporting member passes, the frame projecting above and below'the reel; and a cam-acting brake-lever mounted in the r'r'a'me below the reel, one end of which lever acts as guide for said flexible member; sublst'ar'itially las described.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERICH WEBER.

Witnesses; ARTHUR RIRSTEN, RUDOLPH FRcKE. 

